Quarterbacks will take center stage at UNLV scrimmage

By Ryan Greene

Saturday, Aug. 21, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.

ELY — Every night during fall camp in Ely, the UNLV coaching staff has met at 9:30 in their hotel conference room.

And every night, offensive coordinator Rob Phenicie asks the question to the staff regarding the quarterback position: If we were playing today, who would start?

Several nights, the majority's answer changes between senior incumbent starter Omar Clayton and junior Mike Clausen.

"We grind on it every night," he said. "Our depth chart changes daily. It's a hard decision when you've got two great kids like that."

On Saturday morning, UNLV will cap its 11-day stay up north with a 90-minute scripted scrimmage that will feature 55 offensive plays.

Obviously, the two quarterbacks leading the way in the race to start the Sept. 4 opener at home against No. 12 Wisconsin will be watched closer than anyone.

Clayton has started for the better part of two years, while Clausen has earned a handful of starts due to Clayton injuries.

However, they both entered camp under the new coaching staff with a clean slate, as Bobby Hauck's offense presents a more balanced attack instead of the wide open shotgun spread that was employed under Mike Sanford.

Hauck has kept the two on a rotation where the reps for each quarterback with the No. 1 offense have stayed relatively even so far.

Late last week, after Clausen went down briefly with a minor foot injury, Clayton shined with the first team for a handful of days before Clausen returned to 11-on-11 drills.

The last three days, though, Clausen has taken the brunt of the snaps with the first unit and made up whatever ground he may have lost due to his brief setback.

"He's come on strong," Phenicie said of Clausen. "He's very competitive. They're both very competitive. I like the way Mikes been playing, I like the way Omar's been playing. So I've got no problems."

As has been the case each of the past two years, as well, there is no bad blood between Clayton and Clausen.

The two became close friends as soon as they came to Las Vegas. They live together, and have been roommates for every training camp trip and road game since.

That certainly won't change whenever Hauck names a starter, either.

Saturday's scrimmage will have just as much bearing on the choice, though, as any other practice this fall. Still, don't expect a decision to be made until after the team returns for Ely and has more practices under its belt.

"If I had it my way, we'd both go out and have a good day," Clayton said. "I don't want to go out and have a great day and just have him have the worst practice ever.

"Me, I want to go out tomorrow and have my best day of camp."

Bad news on Thompson

Sophomore running back Imari Thompson, who left Ely earlier this week after suffering a right foot injury, underwent an MRI back in Las Vegas to reveal the damage.

The result was not good, as he'll need surgery on the foot before returning to action. No timetable for his return has been set.

Thompson was having a strong showing at camp and appeared to be in line for some playing time, however that role on the depth chart now looks as if it has been taken by true freshman Tim Cornett.

More injury updates

During Friday's final practice before the scrimmage, 12 Rebels spent at least part of practice limited in action while donning blue jerseys.

That list included: Redshirt freshman safety John Therrell (head), redshirt freshman safety Courtney Bridget (undisclosed), senior cornerback Quinton Pointer (undisclosed), senior defensive end Daniel Mareko (undisclosed), junior defensive end Jameel Medlock (undisclosed), senior defensive end Preston Brooks (undisclosed), junior running back C.J. Cox (undisclosed), freshman receiver Marcus Sullivan (undisclosed), freshman receiver Kurt Davis (undisclosed), junior receiver Mike Johnson (undisclosed), sophomore receiver Mark Barefield (knee) and redshirt freshman cornerback Cedric Coleman (ankle).

Next up

Following the scrimmage, the players and coaches will check out of their hotels and head straight back to Las Vegas, where the team will get two days off from practice.

The Rebels resume practice on Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Rebel Park, where all practices will remain open to the public.